Former public radio executive Laura R. Walker will be the next president of Bennington College.
Walker, who was the longtime president and CEO of New York Public Radio, or WNYC, is being appointed after former president Mariko Silver stepped down last summer.
Walker, who will take over from Interim President Isabel Roche, will start as president elect on July 1 and become president on Aug. 1
"I look forward to serving as both a steward of and explorer on Bennington’s path to the future, upholding its proud traditions while helping the college to forge its own course in a changing world," Walker said in a statement Monday.
Walker, who spent 23 years at the helm of WNYC, oversaw major growth at the station, which is known for its local coverage of New York City as well as nationally syndicated programs, and podcasts.
According to WNYC, under Walker's leadership, the station launched 20 new programs including "Radiolab," "On the Media" and "The New Yorker Radio Hour," and its listenership grew from 1 million to 26 million. Its budget grew from $1 million to $97 million. Walker left the station in 2019.
“Laura is the unique, emboldened leader who can serve as both a visionary and a change agent. Throughout her career, she has ignited profound innovation, paving new paths in journalism, public broadcasting and the arts, and her fresh ideas are complemented greatly by a demonstrable ability to lead through change,” Nick Stephens, the chair of Bennington's board of trustees, said.
Walker also left WNYC after it faced scandals involving its workplace culture and complaints of managers harassing employees.
In 2017, one host, John Hockenberry stepped down, and months later allegations of sexual harassment against him were made public.
Two other high profile hosts were fired that year, after the company investigated allegations of inappropriate conduct and employees complained of a toxic workplace in the press.
WNYC hired a law firm to investigate the workplace. According to reporting by the station, the investigation found no systemic discrimination at the organization but did find "offensive and harassing conduct."
Walker oversaw efforts to improve workplace culture and diversity at the station.
Before Walker worked at WNYC she served as the vice president of development at Sesame Workshop, a nonprofit that has created television programs including Sesame Street.
She began her career as a journalist, and previously worked as a producer for National Public Radio.
If you want to keep tabs on Vermont's education news, sign up here to get a weekly email with all of VTDigger's reporting on higher education, early childhood programs and K-12 education policy.
